Updated: CAF releases potential locations for new headquarters, national air base

Rachael Gleason | rgleason@mrt.com

Published 7:01 am, Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Photo: JAMES DURBIN

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(File Photo) Stephan Brown, President of the Commemorative Air Force, highlights the events planned for AirSho 2012 at a press conference Wednesday at the CAF. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

(File Photo) Stephan Brown, President of the Commemorative Air Force, highlights the events planned for AirSho 2012 at a press conference Wednesday at the CAF. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: JAMES DURBIN

Updated: CAF releases potential locations for new headquarters, national air base

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The Commemorative Air Force favored Texas metropolitan areas in a list of potential locations for its new headquarters.

CAF announced in May its decision to relocate administrative offices and build a new national air base. The list released Wednesday includes airports in Fort Worth, McKinney, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Sherman-Dennison. Only two airports in other states -- Kansas City-Olathe, Kan., and Smurna, Tenn. -- made the list.

“Each of these eight locations has the potential to help propel the Commemorative Air Force to a higher plane of awareness and national impact,” said Stephan C. Brown, CAF president and CEO, in a prepared statement.

The move needs the approval of nine of 11 board members, who voted unanimously in April, and three-fourths of member-volunteers, who can vote by absentee ballot or in person at the CAF AirSho in October. The vote by member-volunteers authorizes the board to make a final selection, Brown said.

The CAF has been working with international real estate and consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle to narrow down the list of locations from 25 to eight. Location requirements for the air base include being in a metropolitan area with a population of at least 1 million people. Existing road and economic infrastructure must be in place, and the location must sit on at least 150 to 200 acres of land adjacent to a major international airport with air space around and above the airport.

“We were excited to see strong interest from many communities across the country, which our team carefully evaluated,” Brown said. “Over the next few months, the general staff will conduct an extensive investigation, proposal and negotiation process to further narrow the potential sites and ultimately select a new location.”

Brown previously said the CAF museum and its annual events will stay in Midland. The new national air base will become the organization’s headquarters and feature annual aviation attractions.

“For more than 55 years, we have been restoring, maintaining and operating the world’s largest fleet of flying vintage military aircraft,” Brown said. “We expect this air base to become a premier destination for the chosen host city.”

Not everyone in the Permian Basin thinks the CAF is moving in the right direction. State Rep. Tom Craddick said the move could endanger state funding and break an agreement with the city to house “FiFi,” the only flying B-29.

The CAF will discuss meeting regional commitments at the City Council meeting on Aug. 27, Brown said.

Potential locations for new headquarters and national air base

Alliance Airport, Fort Worth

-- Located on Interstate 35 West

-- About 300 miles from Midland

Collin County Airport, McKinney

-- Located near Highway 121 and U.S. Route 380 in the Dallas metropolitan area